Chapter 13.10
WATER AND SEWER CONNECTIONS
Sections:
13.10.010 Service policy – Applicability.
13.10.030 Direct connection to water service permitted when – Conditions.
13.10.040 Cross-connection survey.
13.10.010 Service policy – Applicability.
The Town of Wilkeson establishes the following service policy to protect the public water supply system from the risk of contamination. For public health and safety, this policy shall apply equally to all new and existing customers. [Ord. 2014.01, 2014].
13.10.020 Air gap required.
The customer’s plumbing system, starting from the termination of the Town of Wilkeson’s water service, shall be considered a potential high health hazard requiring the isolation of the customer’s premises by a Town of Wilkeson approved, customer installed and maintained air gap. The air gap shall be located at the end of the Town of Wilkeson’s service pipe. Water shall only be supplied to the customer through this Town of Wilkeson approved air gap. [Ord. 2014.01, 2014].
13.10.030 Direct connection to water service permitted when – Conditions.
Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the Town of Wilkeson, upon assessing the risk of contamination posed by the customer’s plumbing system and use of water, may allow the customer to connect directly to the water service, i.e.,without a Town of Wilkeson approved air gap. Permission for the direct connection to the water service will be at the sole discretion of the Town of Wilkeson, and will be based on the following terms and limitations:
A. The customer agrees to take all measures necessary to prevent the contamination of the plumbing system within their premises and the Town of Wilkeson’s distribution system that may occur from backflow through a cross-connection. These measures shall include the prevention of backflow under any backpressure or backsiphonage condition, including the disruption of supply from the Town of Wilkeson’s system that may occur by reason of routine system maintenance or during emergency conditions, such as a water main break.
B. The customer agrees to install, operate and maintain at all times their plumbing system in compliance with the current edition of the plumbing code having jurisdiction as it pertains to the prevention of contamination, and protection from thermal expansion due to a closed system that could occur with the present or future installation of backflow preventers on the customer’s service and/or at plumbing fixtures.
C. For cross-connection control or other public health related surveys, the customer agrees to provide free access for the employees of the Town of Wilkeson to all parts of the premises during reasonable working hours of the day for routine surveys, and at all times during emergencies.
D. The customer agrees to install all backflow prevention assemblies requested by the Town of Wilkeson, and to maintain those assemblies in good working order. The assemblies shall be of a type, size and make approved by the Town of Wilkeson and the State of Washington Department of Health. The assemblies shall be installed in accordance with all standards established by the Town of Wilkeson.
E. The customer agrees to have all backflow prevention assemblies tested upon installation, annually thereafter or when requested by the Town of Wilkeson, after repair and after relocation. All testing shall be done by a Town of Wilkeson approved and State of Washington Department of Health certified backflow prevention assembly tester (BAT). The results of the tests shall be reported within thirty (30) days to the Town of Wilkeson on a form provided by or approved by the Town of Wilkeson.
F. The customer agrees to obtain prior approval from the Town of Wilkeson for all changes in water use and alterations and additions to the plumbing system, and shall comply with any additional requirements imposed by the Town of Wilkeson for cross-connection control.
G. The customer acknowledges the right of the Town of Wilkeson, in keeping with changes to and State of Washington Department of Health regulations, or the Town of Wilkeson’s risk management policies, to impose retroactive requirements for additional cross-connection control measures.
H. The customer acknowledges the right of the Town of Wilkeson to discontinue water supply within seventy-two (72) hours of giving notice, or a lesser period of time if required to protect the public health, if the customer fails to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, repair, inspection or testing of backflow prevention assemblies or air gaps required by the Town of Wilkeson.
I. The customer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Town of Wilkeson for all contamination of the customer’s plumbing system or the Town of Wilkeson’s distribution system that results from an unprotected or inadequately protected cross-connection within their premises. This indemnification shall pertain to all backflow conditions that may arise from the Town of Wilkeson’s suspension of water supply or reduction of water pressure, recognizing that the air gap separation otherwise required would require the customer to provide adequate facilities to collect, store and pump water for their premises. [Ord. 2014.01, 2014].
13.10.040 Cross-connection survey.
A. The water operator of the Town of Wilkeson shall establish the priority for the survey and repeat survey of new and existing premises for cross-connections, based on the risk management policies established by the Town of Wilkeson, and the minimum requirements imposed by the Washington State Department of Health. The administrator shall establish standards and procedures governing the application, installation approval and testing of assemblies, and other related tasks in accordance with the Washington State Department of Health regulations and the American Water Works Association – Pacific Northwest Section “Manual of Cross Connection Control” Sixth Edition, or latest edition thereof; and may establish such other more stringent requirements deemed necessary to reduce the risk of contamination of the public water supply system.
B. The survey of a customer’s premises shall be for the sole purpose of establishing the Town of Wilkeson’s minimum requirements for the protection of the public water supply system, commensurate with the Town of Wilkeson’s assessment of the degree of hazard. It shall not be assumed by the customer or other regulatory agencies that the Town of Wilkeson’s survey, requirements for the installation of backflow prevention assemblies, lack of requirements for the installation of backflow prevention assemblies, or other actions by personnel employed by the Town of Wilkeson, constitutes an approval of the customer’s plumbing system, or an assurance to the customer of the absence of cross-connections therein. [Ord. 2014.01, 2014].